Announcements
The STARS Enrollment Calculation Tool, commonly known as the ECT, assists the provider in accurately determining enrollment, as a full-time equivalency (FTE), for individual children and the program as a whole. This form is required for STARS Designation and Renewal. The ECT is also required to be completed by all STARS 2-4 providers eligible for grant funding. It will assist the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) in identifying the number of children impacted by the continuous quality improvement efforts of STARS participating providers.
The timeframe of the data collection for the ECT can be any calendar week within the time period of 7/1-4/30 that best represents continued enrollment of the subsidy children. The worksheet must indicate which calendar week was used. (example 8/21/17 -8/24/17). The chosen week and the resulting FTE must be representative of the typical year-round enrollment of subsidy children.
You can download the documents below, choose either Word or Excel formats for your program type.
Please contact your Quality Coach if you need assistance completing your ECT.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is making some changes to the Rising STAR Tuition Assistance program. Rising STARS helps cover a portion of tuition costs for early learning professionals. Funding has been secured through June 30, 2019.
Beginning immediately, degree waivers for programs outside of the approved degree list (PDF) will no longer be accepted. If you are already enrolled in a program with a previously approved degree waiver, your funding will continue until your program is completed.
Applications for out-of-state institutions will also no longer be accepted. If you are enrolled in a program at an out-of-state institution, your funding will continue until your program is completed.
To learn more, visit the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance.
The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced that effective August 1, 2018, the Child Care Works (CCW) program will both lift the base rate freeze for STAR 1 and STAR 2 providers, as well as, apply a general Maximum Child Care Allowance (MCCA) base rate increase of 2.5% across all counties, provider types, STAR levels, and care levels.
Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) will contact providers in July or August to both gather their program’s current private pay rates and to sign updated provider agreements. If a program serves children in Philadelphia or Allegheny County, they will receive this information through their Child Care Information Service Office. OCDEL is requesting that early learning providers be responsive to the ELRCs when they outreach around the provider agreements.
CLICK HERE for more information about Early Learning Resource Centers.
The PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the revised Keystone STARS Performance Standards, effective beginning July 1, 2018.
CLICK HERE to visit the PA Keys website to view the performance standards, the revised Keystone STARS Program Manual.